VFS, visa processing major, shares it H1 volumes, applications in India surpass pre-pandemic levels
Robust pent-up demand for outbound travel from India for the first time went past the pre-pandemic levels in H1 2024 (January to June 2024). According to VFS Global that manages visa applications for 52 countries from India, the volumes recorded in H1 2024, surpassed the same period in 2019 by 2%. It also witnessed a steady 11% YoY growth in application counts over H1 2023.
Some of the popular destinations comprise Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, USA and UK. (in alphabetical order), shares the communication.
The preference for tailored services persisted as a predominant trend in visa application behaviours. VFS Global noted a significant increase in the demand for personalised services such as Visa At Your Doorstep (VAYD). This premium optional service allows applicants to manage the full visa application submission from their homes or any preferred location, including biometric enrolment. VAYD bookings in H1 2024 in India registered around five-fold increase when compared to 2019 as a well YoY increase of 16% over H1 2023. VFS Global provides its VAYD services for 16 nations within India, including Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Switzerland, and the UK.
“The preference for personalized services like VAYD has increased among travelers post-pandemic due to health reasons. These offerings improve the visa application process by providing additional comfort and convenience. We anticipate a growing demand for these premium services that emphasize secure travel within this year as well,” added Yummi Talwar, Chief Operating Officer, South Asia, VFS Global.
VFS Global is the trusted partner to 52 sovereign governments in India and provides visa services on their behalf through a network of over 560 visa application centres spread across 19 cities. VFS Global’s role in the visa application process is limited to front-end administrative tasks only, which include collecting visa application forms, required documentation as per the checklist, and enrol biometrics, if applicable. VFS Global has no role in the decision-making process of granting or refusing a visa. Recent innovations introduced by VFS include:
- Visa At Your Doorstep: Apply for your visa and enrol biometrics from the location of your choice.
- Premium Lounge: Get an end-to-end personalised visa submission experience from the comfort of a lounge.
- Prime Time: Apply for your visa beyond normal working hours or even on weekends.
- Form-filling assistance: Allow our expert staff to assist you in completing your visa application on phone or at a visa application centre
- Courier Service: We deliver your passport and documents. It’s quick, safe, and convenient.
- Travel Medical Insurance: Get your mandatory Travel Medical Insurance including Covid-19 coverage from global insurers.
- SMS Alerts: Stay updated on the progress of your visa application.
In this regard, Talwar emphasised the importance of applicants being cautious of counterfeit websites and fraudulent social media pages that pose as VFS Global and offer appointments in exchange of money.
“Appointments are free and are exclusively available through www.vfsglobal.com on a first-come, first-served basis. As a responsible service provider, we persist in raising awareness about this concern and encourage applicants to arrange their travel plans well in advance,” she said.
- Visa applications in India in H1 2024 (January to June 2024) exceeded the H1 2019 volumes by 2%.
- The YoY increase during the same period was 11%.
- Acceptance of personalised services such as Visa At Your Doorstep (VAYD) recorded four-fold rise against 2019; YoY increase of 16%
With a responsible approach to technology development, adoption and integration, the company prioritizes ethical practices and sustainability while serving as the trusted partner to 68 client governments. Operating over 3,400 Application Centres in 153 countries, VFS Global has efficiently processed more than 292 million applications since 2001. Headquartered in Zurich and Dubai and majority owned through investment funds managed by Blackstone Inc, along with the Swiss-based Kuoni and Hugentobler Foundation and EQT, VFS Global is committed to creating value for all stakeholders and leading in responsible, innovative solutions making government services more effective and efficient.
ABOUT VFS
VFS Global is majority-owned by funds managed by Blackstone, the world’s leading alternative asset manager. The Swiss-based Kuoni and Hugentobler Foundation and EQT, a global investment organisation, headquartered in Stockholm/Sweden, hold minority stakes in VFS Global.
